Altoona 2011-2012 Living on Campus

2011-2012
Altoona
Living on Campus
100% Penn State Living
Living on campus at Penn State
Altoona makes you part of a closeknit community where you can form
strong relationships with fellow
students, faculty, and staff. And you’ll
enjoy the benefits of close proximity
to classes, recreational areas, dining
services, and on-campus parking.
Where to find us
Penn State Altoona
Housing and Food Services
3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona PA 16601-3760
• Only 15 minutes off Interstate 99
• Downtown Pittsburgh is just
1½ hours away
• Less than one hour from
Penn State University Park
1
Penn State Altoona is nestled on
150 beautifully landscaped acres in
the Ivyside section of northeastern
Altoona. The campus opened in
1939 as the Altoona Undergraduate
Center. In 1947, the campus was
moved to its current location on
grounds purchased from the Ivyside
Amusement Park. A scenic reflecting
pond graces the center of campus,
complete with a serene fountain, a
waterfall, and a family of ducks.
Table of Contents
Living Environment.......................................................................... 3
Residence Community Staff........................................................... 6
Food for Thought............................................................................. 7
Campus Meal Plan............................................................................ 8
LionCash+.......................................................................................... 8
Special Delivery................................................................................ 8
Social and Recreational Opportunities....................................... 9
The Next Step................................................................................ 10
Contact Information.......................................................back cover
2
Did you know?
Penn State Altoona is one of
the few Penn State campuses
that offers an active Greek life.
Living Environment
Penn State Altoona offers a variety of housing options to meet the needs
of a diverse student body. Oak and Maple Halls house two students per
bedroom with one common bathroom on each floor. Spruce and Cedar
Halls offer suite living for upper-class students, accommodating four
students per suite. Each suite shares one semiprivate bathroom.
• Basic
cable television service
is included in your room rate.
• High-speed
Ethernet connections
are provided in every bedroom.
• Daily
newspapers are available
at no charge.
For your convenience, Penn State offers many standard features in the
residence areas. Below is a list of common room amenities, along with
other important on-campus information.
Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities
Housing accommodations are available if you require special
assistance. Contact the Housing and Food Services Office to discuss the
options available.
Cable Television Service
One cable television connection is provided in each residence area room.
Basic cable television service is provided by Housing and Food Services.
You may contract with the local cable TV provider for expanded service.
Computer Connections
3
Every residence area room has been wired with Ethernet connections,
and you can access the Internet using a personal computer. The software
required for this connection and information on how to activate the
connection will be available during check-in or at www.rescom.psu.
edu. Wireless service is offered in Port-Sky Café, Common Grounds in
the Slep Student Center, and the residence hall lobbies.
Computer Labs
Each residence hall offers a secure computer lab for the
convenience of its residents. Additional computer labs are
also located elsewhere on campus.
Did you know?
Penn State Altoona is located
on the former site of the
Ivyside Amusement Park.
Laundry Facilities
Fully-equipped laundry facilities are located in each
residence area for exclusive use by on-campus residents.
LionCash+ is used for payment of laundry services.
More information about LionCash+ is available online at
www.idcard.psu.edu.
Newspaper Readership Program
It’s easy to stay current with national and local events.
USA Today, The New York Times, and the local newspaper,
The Altoona Mirror, are available free of charge — Monday
through Friday at newspaper racks across campus.
Residence Hall Security
Every residence area has full-time, live-in professional staff
members responsible for ensuring a safe, secure, and
comfortable living environment. University Police officers
are also available to address specific security concerns.
All residence area buildings are locked 24 hours a day, and you
must swipe your Penn State id+ Card to gain entry. A closedcircuit camera system is installed at entrance doors as well.
Parking
Students may bring a car to campus, but must register the
vehicle with University Police and pay the parking fee.
Postal Service
Housing and Food Services provides limited postal services to
residents. Both campus and U.S. mail are guaranteed prompt
delivery and distribution.
Recycling
Penn State is serious about reducing waste and protecting
the environment. Recycling bins are located in the residence
halls for your convenience. For more information about
what else you can do to conserve resources and reduce
waste, visit www.green.psu.edu.
4
Room Amenities
When you move in, you will be provided with an extra-long
twin bed, chest of drawers, desk with chair, and wardrobe closet
in your room. One microwave/refrigerator/freezer unit will also
be provided for each room.
Safety
All residence area buildings are routinely inspected and comply
with safety regulations. Each building is equipped with a modern
fire safety system, including sprinklers.
Smoking Policy
Penn State Altoona is a smoke-free campus. There are three
designated areas on the perimeter of campus where smoking is
allowed.
Study Lounges
Each residence area building provides several study lounges.
Vending
Soda and snack vending machines are available in each residence
area.
Special Living Options
Penn State residence areas offer a wide variety of opportunities
to get involved in the campus community. Special Living Options
(SLOs) are available for students interested in living with others
who share their interests and goals.
LIFE Altoona (Living in a Free Environment)
LIFE Altoona offers an interactive and engaging advanced living
community in which members promise to abstain from the use
of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco products at all times. LIFE offers
many leadership opportunities for students on LIFE Council,
such as president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary, and many
other chair positions. The resident assistants in LIFE are specially
trained to gear both the educational and social programs
towards individuals who have chosen to engage in a substancefree lifestyle. These programs will take place consistently
throughout each semester and many of the social programs
will be on weekends to give residents an on-campus outlet for
socialization and friendship. Many of the educational programs
will give students an opportunity to challenge and explore their
personal values and ideals, along with giving residents great
knowledge and personal growth.
Discover
Did you know?
5
Penn State Altoona offers 23
four year degrees, eight associate
degrees, and the first two years of
over 180 Penn State majors.
Discover, an advanced living community for first-year students
that is supported by the Division of Undergraduate Studies,
gives residents the opportunity to explore the many academic
programs and majors offered at Penn State. Residents receive
individualized attention from faculty members and develop
strong relationships with their peers as they learn to make
informed, responsible career and life choices.
Did you know?
Penn State Altoona offers over
70 student clubs and organizations
and 15 different NCAA sports.
Residence Community Staff
The Housing, Food Services, and Residence Life staff is
committed to providing you with an environment that is safe,
secure, comfortable, and conducive to academic, personal,
and social development. We promote the concept of
community, in which each student is responsible for
respecting neighbors’ rights. Within the framework of rights
and responsibilities, the individual’s right to choose his or her
own lifestyle is supported.
Housing
Our housing professionals provide a clean, well-maintained
environment for your safety and well-being. Housekeeping
services are provided seven days a week for public areas of
the residence halls, including bathrooms and lounges.
Maintenance and repairs are handled in a timely fashion.
Resident assistants (RAs) are upperclass students living within
the residence area who are responsible for an area house (a
designated group of rooms). RAs are available for information,
assistance, programming, and other services.
Residence Hall Association (RHA)
As an on-campus resident, you’re encouraged to
participate in the Residence Hall Association. This
organization works closely with University administration
on issues important to students and meets regularly with
Housing and Food Services regarding residence area and
dining facility issues. Responsibilities of the group include both
educational and social programming for the residence areas.
Food Services
Our dining facilities are staffed with food service
professionals who provide a variety of healthy, great-tasting
food choices, including traditional favorites, vegetarian items,
and fast food selections.
Residence Life
Assistant directors and coordinators of Residence Life are
full-time professional employees available to provide residents
with assistance in the transition to on-campus living.
6
Food for Thought
There are great places to eat on campus, all conveniently located
near the residence areas.
Port-Sky Café, a full-scale food court, is just a few
steps from your residence area. Port-Sky offers grilled
specialties, fresh pasta, soups, sandwiches, hearty entrées,
a large salad bar, daily specials, and convenient grab ’n go
items. All menu items are prepared by our food service
professionals and are available for breakfast, lunch, dinner,
and late evening snacks.
Coasters Coffee Bar, located
in the Hawthorn Classroom
Building, offers an array of
tempting desserts, snacks,
and beverages.
Located in the Slep Student
Center, Common Grounds
offers convenience store
items, such as bottled
beverages, packaged snack
items, dairy products, frozen items, and health and beauty
products. School supplies are also available. A selection of freshly
prepared sandwiches, salads, coffee, and pastries are offered.
7
The Dining Car Downtown, located in the Aaron Building at
the Penn State Altoona downtown complex, offers an array of
tempting desserts, sandwiches, snacks, and beverages. The Dining
Car is open Monday through Thursday.
The benefits of the Campus Meal Plan
• Access
to the account at any dining facility operated
by Penn State Housing and Food Services
• Easy, cash-free
• Discounted
spending through the id+ card
pricing for members
Campus Meal Plan
The Housing Contract features the convenience
of the Campus Meal Plan. Funds are deposited
into a declining balance account, and are accessed
by the Penn State id+ card—simply present your
id+ card to the cashier and the purchase amount
will be deducted from the account.
The meal plan is comprised of two
components—base cost and dining
dollars. The base cost covers all non-food
costs for operating food services, such as
labor, supplies, maintenance, and utilities.
Dining dollars are used to make purchases
at on-campus food service facilities.
All menu items have a cash price that
includes both the food costs and the
base cost of operation. Since meal plan
members pay this base cost up front, oncampus dining purchases are significantly
discounted with each visit. Meal plan members receive
approximately 65 percent off the cash price of prepared food
purchases. For certain items, such as prepackaged vendor items,
no discount is given. Purchases of prepared food items made at
on-campus coffee shops using the meal plan receive a 10 percent
discount. Convenience store purchases do not receive a discount.
Level Options
The Meal Plan offers six level options, with varying dining dollar
amounts available to purchase meals. Meal Plan levels can be
adjusted until 14 days before the end of the semester by visiting
www.eLiving.psu.edu. Funds can be added online by visiting
www.idcard.psu.edu, or with cash/check at the cashier station
in any Penn State Food Service operation.
LionCash+
LionCash+ is an online, prepaid
flexible spending account accessed
with the Penn State id+ Card. Just deposit money into your
account and enjoy the convenience of making cash-free
purchases at participating locations. LionCash+ is also the
method used to pay for on-campus laundry. Funds can be
added at any time, and family and friends can make deposits
by going to www.idcard.psu.edu.
LionCash+ also complements the meal plan—if you run out
of dining dollars, on-campus dining registers will automatically
default to your LionCash+ account. If there is enough to cover
the purchase, the funds will be withdrawn from the LionCash+
account, and processed at the meal plan rate.
LionCash+ is accepted on campus at the Penn State Bookstore,
Port-Sky Café, Common Grounds convenience store, Coasters
Coffee Bar, and The Dining Car Downtown, as well as at all other
Penn State campuses and select off-campus merchants. To learn
more and to view the complete list of participating merchants,
visit www.idcard.psu.edu.
Special Delivery
A perfect surprise for any occasion Housing and Food Services
offers the Special Delivery program, allowing parents and
family members to purchase treats such as decorated cakes,
fruit baskets, pizza, and more for their special Penn State student
available online at www.hfs.psu.edu/specialdelivery.
8
Social and Recreational
Opportunities
Living on campus makes it easy to take advantage of nearby
recreational areas, like the athletic fields, track, and the volleyball,
tennis, and basketball courts. We are proud to offer 15 Division III
NCAA sports programs, along with intramural programs for team
and individual sports. The campus boasts over 70 student
clubs and organizations, including student government, fraternities,
sororities, and Lion Ambassadors.
Did you know?
Plus, the residence areas often feature movies, dances, guest speakers
and other special events. There are also numerous student
employment opportunities on campus.
Penn State Altoona Food Services
employs 100 students each year.
Imagine—all of this, right in your on-campus neighborhood.
Learn more about student
employment opportunities at
www.hfs.psu.edu/Altoona/
studentemployment.
9
The Next Step
On-campus housing at Penn State Altoona is offered on a
first-come, first-served basis. Housing is not guaranteed
for any student. Even though you have until May 1 to
accept the offer of admission, if you are interested in living
on campus, we recommend that you accept the offer early in
order to secure housing. There is more demand for housing
than space available, and housing can fill very early in the
process.
When you are ready to accept your offer of admission to
Penn State, go online to www.admissions.psu.edu, and
click on the MyPennState link.You will need to log on
with your Friends of Penn State account (FPS account)
and password. Before you finalize confirmation of your
acceptance of the offer of admission and pay the acceptance
fees, you will be informed if on-campus housing is available.
Housing Available
If on-campus housing is available, you will be able to indicate
that you are interested in living on campus. After submitting
payment for the non-refundable general acceptance fee of
$200 and the non-refundable housing reservation fee of $100
(for a total of $300), you must then agree to the Housing
Financial Statement and Terms and Conditions of the Housing
Contract (available online at www.hfs.psu.edu/altoona/
housingcontracts).You will then have successfully accepted
the Housing Contract.Your meal plan will automatically be
defaulted to level 3.You will receive a confirmation email that
you have successfully submitted your Housing Contract.
To modify the Housing Contract preferences, such as building
or roommate request, or to change your meal plan level,
log on to www.eLiving.psu.edu with your FPS account.
Preferences can be modified until May 1. After that date you
can only modify your preferences on the same day that you
accept your contract.
Housing Not Available
If housing is not available, you will be provided with a list of
options that you can review before accepting the offer of
admission. This may include the option to add your name to
the Waitlist, seek off-campus housing, or request a change
of campus where on-campus housing is available. Additional
information about off-campus housing is available at www.
eLiving.psu.edu/new_cwc_students/off-campus_
housing.shtml.
Adding your name to the Waitlist does not guarantee that
you will receive an offer for a Housing Contract. Housing
Contract offers are only made to students on the Waitlist
when a cancellation is received. There is no way to predict
how many or when cancellations will occur. Not all students
who add their name to the Waitlist will be offered a Housing
Contract.
Information pertaining to a student’s Housing Contract and
the housing process are available at www.eLiving.psu.edu
using the FPS account and password. If you are having trouble
with your FPS account, please visit www.fps.psu.edu to
reset your password or establish an account.You may also
contact the ITS Help Desk at helpdesk@psu.edu or 814863-1035.You will not be able to log on to eLiving
unless you have created an FPS account.
10
Contact Information
Housing and Food Services
Penn State Altoona
Housing and Food Services
3000 Ivyside Drive
Altoona PA 16601-3760
814-949-5400 – Food Services
814-949-5713 – Housing
housingAA@psu.edu
foodserviceAA@psu.edu
www.hfs.psu.edu/altoona
Penn State Altoona
www.altoona.psu.edu
Admissions
814-949-5466 or toll-free 800-848-9843
www.admissions.psu.edu
AAadmit@psu.edu
Academic Affairs
814-949-5090
Advising Center
814-949-5084
eLiving
www.eLiving.psu.edu
Penn State Housing and Food Services is
a caring organization, providing quality food,
housing, and customer service while supporting
the University’s mission.
eLion
https://elion.psu.edu
Friends of Penn State (access account information)
www.fps.psu.edu
helpdesk@psu.edu
This publication is available in alternative media on request.
The Pennsylvania State University is committed to the policy that all persons shall have
equal access to programs, facilities, admission, and employment without regard to personal
characteristics not related to ability, performance, or qualifications as determined by
University policy or by state and federal authorities. It is the policy of the University to
maintain an academic and work environment free of discrimination, including harassment.
The Pennsylvania State University prohibits discrimination and harassment against
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or harassment against faculty, staff, or students will not be tolerated at The Pennsylvania
State University. Direct all inquiries regarding the discrimination policy to the Affirmative
Action Director, The Pennsylvania State University, 328 Boucke Building, University Park,
PA 16802-5901; Tel 814-865-4700/V, 814-863-1150/TTY.
U.Ed. AUX 11-3 10-CWC-0047